Chapter 61: The Temptation of Martial Soul Evolution

"Octavius Xuanbing Grass and Blazing Apricot Delicate?"

Hearing Mo Hui's words, Dugu Bo froze for a moment. The Land of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang, wasn't this precisely his own medicinal garden?

And those Octavius Xuanbing Grass and Blazing Apricot Delicate, could they possibly be those two medicinal herbs, one freezing and one blazing?

Could this kid have somehow found out about his medicinal garden and was trying to trap him here? But that was impossible; word of his medicinal garden had never leaked out. There was simply no way this brat could know.

However, just to be safe, Dugu Bo decided to scare Mo Hui a little more. He let out a cold snort and said, "I think your mind is addled, boy. You expect me to let you go based on some legend of unknown authenticity? Besides, even if that legend were true, now that I know about it, wouldn't it be easier to just kill you? What can you possibly do about it now?"

Yet Mo Hui looked at Dugu Bo as if he were looking at a fool, and replied, "Senior Title Douluo, you surely don't think that picking and consuming such special herbs has no prerequisites, do you? If you really kill me, then I've misjudged you and overestimated you."

Mo Hui's words made the old man's face flush; it seemed he had indeed acted somewhat foolishly. Still, refusing to admit defeat on the surface, Dugu Bo demanded, "Are you saying you know how to harvest and use them?"

Mo Hui nodded and said, "Of course. But you must release my teachers first, otherwise I will not tell you. You can also keep me here as a hostage; if you find out I'm lying, you can still kill me. Surely a thirteen-year-old soul master of the fortieth rank carries enough weight for that."

Although his memory wasn't entirely clear, he still vaguely remembered the methods for harvesting and consuming these two immortal herbs. Moreover, even if he wasn't certain, he had to sound confident now, or it would be difficult for them to leave this place alive.

There was no help for it; who told them they were so unlucky as to run into Dugu Bo?

Thinking of this, Mo Hui sighed inwardly. He had originally thought that their lineup would allow them to retreat unscathed even if they encountered a seventy-thousand-year soul beast, but he had calculated everything except for Dugu Bo.

Hearing this, Dugu Bo rubbed his chin and began to ponder.

A thirteen-year-old soul master of the fortieth rank was truly astonishing. He had never heard of anyone reaching this level at such a tender age before.

After a moment of silence, Dugu Bo spoke up, "Hmph! What kind of person do you take Dugu Bo for? Since I said I would let them go after taking three strikes, I have let them go. But you cannot leave. For as long as my poison remains unresolved, you must stay by my side. If I die and still haven't found those two immortal herbs, you will be buried with me."

"Very well, I agree to those conditions."

Inside, Mo Hui smiled secretly. The old man was still putting on airs, wasn't he? Clearly, the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was right next door, yet he acted as though there was a chance he might never find it.

Having said that, Dugu Bo grabbed Mo Hui and sprinted rapidly toward the toxic fog.

Witnessing this, the teachers of the Shinfeng Academy looked at each other in dismay. Feng Yi directly asked Feng Qingcang, "Dean, Mo Hui was captured by Dugu Bo. What should we do?"

At this moment, everyone from Shinfeng Academy felt deeply remorseful. As teachers, not only had they failed to protect Mo Hui, but they had also needed Mo Hui to bail them out, and in the end, he had been captured by Dugu Bo just to save them.

"Calm yourselves first. Right now, the other party seems to have a request for Mo Hui, so he shouldn't harm him immediately. Otherwise, he wouldn't have helped me detoxify. Let's wait and see. If all else fails, we can only go and ask the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect for help and see if they are willing to step in."

Feng Qingcang was also frantic with worry. There was simply no helping it—how could they fight when there was no Title Douluo backing them up?

Their only option now was to seek out the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Given Mo Hui's talent, reaching the rank of Title Douluo barring any accidents would be quite easy. Knowing how desperately the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect thirsted for talent, they would surely be willing to intervene.

However, his greatest worry was that Mo Hui might be killed by Dugu Bo in the process. A dead genius was no longer a genius, and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect would never go toe-to-toe with a Title Douluo over someone who was already dead.

...

The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

"Could... could this be the legendary Land of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang?"

Looking at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well appearing before him, Mo Hui feigned profound astonishment and cried out.

Seeing Mo Hui's shocked expression, a trace of complacency flashed across Dugu Bo's eyes. He chuckled, "Hahaha, that's right, kid. This is the legendary Land of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang you've heard about. Nowadays, though, it's just my private medicinal garden."

"Alright, speak! How do we harvest the Octavius Xuanbing Grass and the Blazing Apricot Delicate, and how are they consumed?"

Yet, upon hearing this, Mo Hui did not immediately reveal the methods for harvesting and consumption. Instead, he turned to Dugu Bo and said, "Before using the Octavius Xuanbing Grass and the Blazing Apricot Delicate, I think there is something Senior needs to be reminded of, lest Senior regrets it afterwards."

"What is it?"

Sensing that there might be some unexpected complication, Dugu Bo quickly pressed for an answer.

Mo Hui explained, "The Octavius Xuanbing Grass and the Blazing Apricot Delicate were born from this Land of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang. After Senior consumes these two immortal herbs, your body will essentially become a miniature Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. While you will gain a body completely immune to all poisons, your own toxic arts might dissipate as a result."

"What?! Are you playing tricks on me, brat?"

Dugu Bo instantly flew into a rage. His entire arsenal of toxic arts was the foundation of his combat prowess. If his poison arts were to scatter and he lost the aid of his toxins, whether he could even defeat a Soul Douluo would become a question.

"Senior, do not be hasty; junior hasn't finished speaking yet."

Hearing Dugu Bo make such a fuss over nothing, Mo Hui was somewhat speechless, but he continued, "Although Senior's poison arts might dissipate, the Octavius Xuanbing Grass and the Blazing Apricot Delicate are themselves violently toxic substances. After consuming them, Senior may acquire even stronger dual ice and fire toxins, alongside complete immunity to ice and fire."

"Moreover, with the assistance of these two immortal herbs, Senior's martial soul even has a chance to evolve once more, and your soul power might increase by several ranks. Becoming a Super Douluo is well within reach."

At this point, Mo Hui looked straight at Dugu Bo and added, "Of course, Senior could also let someone else consume these two immortal herbs, in which case their blood should presumably also be able to detoxify Senior."

"However, the Octavius Xuanbing Grass and the Blazing Apricot Delicate are exceedingly rare in this world; this might be the only pairing on the entire Douluo Continent. If Senior lets someone else—say, me—eat them, then Senior's journey will stop right here for the rest of your life."

"How to choose is entirely up to Senior."

Hearing these words, Dugu Bo lowered his head in deep contemplation.

For him, this was a massive gamble. If he succeeded, the path ahead would be smooth, and he would never again suffer the torment of his virulent poisons. If he failed, his toxic arts would be utterly destroyed, and his cultivation would plummet drastically.

After an unknown length of time, Dugu Bo suddenly spoke up, "Hmph! They are merely two immortal herbs; what can they possibly do to me?"

Hearing this, Mo Hui nodded. He already knew Dugu Bo's choice.

And yet, it made sense. A body immune to all poisons, immunity to ice and fire, martial soul evolution, becoming a Super Douluo—the vision Mo Hui had painted was simply too grand. Even a Title Douluo would find it hard to resist.